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27 Jaw-Dropping Beauty Looks from the Met Gala

by
Lexy Lebsack

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Costume Institute Gala, or Met Ball, brought out the heavy-hitters of the beauty world. From Beyonce to Anna Wintour to the Olsen twins, the highly anticipated event is basically the Superbowl of the fashion world for one good reason—everyone is watching.

This year’s exhibit, a celebration of ‘30s American couturier Charles James, inspired a wave of classic red lips, matte skin, and sleek retro curls to complement the couture-inspired gowns.

Lupita Nyong’O

Reese Witherspoon

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PHOTO: WireImage

To complement Reese’s strapless dress, hairstylist Renato Campora created a faux bob. He used Matrix’s Total Results Heat Resist Blow Out Tamer ($16) on her damp hair to give it shape and body, then blew it dry with a round brush to create volume. Finally, he used a 1½-inch barrel curling iron and curled her ends inwards, finishing with a spritz of Biolage’s Styling Complete Control Hairspray ($16).

Anne Hathaway

Sarah Jessica Parker

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PHOTO: WireImage

Makeup artist Leslie Lopez was inspired by the ‘50s for Sarah Jessica Parker’s makeup. She used Nars’ Giove Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow and Via Veneto Larger Than Life Eyeliner (soon to be available in stores) to create “a very distinct shape for [Parker’s] eye that was popular during that era.” Two large buns and a flowered hair accessory finished off this bold beauty look.

Suki Waterhouse

Rachel McAdams

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PHOTO: WireImage

Rachel McAdams channeled her inner '40s bombshell with blown-out locks, courtesy of Ben Skervin. He applied Vidal Sassoon Pro Series’ Bosot & Lift Foaming Air Mousse ($5) through her hair, then separated into six sections and put in hot rollers. After removing the rollers, he brushed through each section with a round comb for sleek, bouncy curls.

Zoe Saldana

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PHOTO: WireImage

Makeup artist Vera Steimberg took one look at Zoe Saldana’s black and white Michael Kors gown and immediately thought of Marbella, Spain. She created a romantic, Spanish-inspired smoky eye and balanced out the earthy tones of Saldana’s eyeshadow with a lighter lip (she used L’Oréal Paris’ Colour Riche Extroardinaire ($9) in Ruby Opera) and applied with her fingers) for a fresh, unique look.

Jessica Alba

Kate Upton

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PHOTO: WireImage

The model/actress kept her look delicate with soft, peach makeup and a floral headband.

Rihanna

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PHOTO: WireImage

Messy topknot, anyone? The singer went against the grain, sporting a messy up-do to offset the polished look of her neutral makeup. Makeup artist Mylah Morales shared the secret to the Rihanna's flawless complexion: vbeauté's Buying Time ($53), a nourishing everyday cream, and vbeauté's Undercover Agent ($45), an anti-wrinkle serum that binds moisture to the skin. "I wanted to give her a clean, glowy face to match the clean lines of her dress," she says. "[These two products] gave me the perfect, smooth palette to work with!"

Joan Smalls

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PHOTO: WireImage

Smalls stood out thanks to her satin purple lipstick and relaxed side braid.

Michelle Williams

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PHOTO: WireImage

Makeup artist Sabrina Bedrani gave Williams glowing skin with Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($24) and the brand’s Second Skin Cheek Colour ($25) in Heather Pink. Colorist Marie Robinson took Williams’ brighter and blonder for the Gala: “I made Michelle platinum for the Gala—bright and happy with a pale silver, pearl tone to it,” she says.

Lake Bell

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PHOTO: WireImage

Makeup artist Kim Bower used Chanel’s Rouge Allure Lipstick ($35) in inimitable to give Bell her vibrant red pout, and Make Up For Ever Metal Powder ($23) in Gold on her eyes.

Chloe Moretz

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PHOTO: WireImage

Moretz’s locks got a dose of texture from hairstylist Gregory Russell. After wrapping pieces of her hair around a 1½-iron to create loose waves, he fastened it in the back with a vintage pearl hair barrette. Then, he used Oribe’s Dry Texture Spray ($42) and Kevin Murphy’s Resort Spray to create texture and definition, scrunching through the ends.